Christmas is right around the corner, and that means decorating is in full swing in homes across the state. If you prefer a live tree to an artificial one, you’ve either got your tree or you’re planning a visit to your local Christmas tree farm soon. Either way, you’ll want to give your Christmas tree a thorough check to make sure it’s not hiding a praying mantis egg sac (which looks something like a pine cone). Here’s what you need to know to protect your tree and your home (and even the baby mantises) to have the best winter in Pennsylvania you can!

Nothing quite compares to breathing in the scent of a fresh Christmas tree, shimmering in ornaments and lights, in your home. However, your beautiful tree might also be harboring some unwanted guests: soon-to-be hatched praying mantises.
Flickr/Discover Lehigh Valley PA
Fraser fir trees are particularly popular with praying mantises, with the females commonly laying their eggs in the trees. The female can lay as many as 400 eggs at a time, usually in the fall.
If the sack has secured to your tree and it's indoors, the praying mantises will warm up, mistaking the warmth for their typical hatch time of the spring or the summer. That means there’s a pretty good chance they’ll hatch early.
Flickr/the great 8
Praying mantises that hatch in your home will die of starvation unless you take action quickly. (Most usually die during the winter months.)
Flickr/Melissa

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First, you must know what to look for. A praying mantis sac is typically the size of a walnut, although it may remind you of a pinecone. Look over your entire tree, going from branch to branch to see if it has any sacs.
Flickr/gailhampshire
If you find sacs, don’t worry. Ideally, you’ll inspect the tree before bringing it indoors. Either way, cut the branch containing the sac off of the tree.
Flickr/Ted Eytan
Take the sac and carefully place it in a nearby evergreen tree, where it can stay warm and the praying mantises can hatch when spring rolls around.
Flickr/GPA Photo Archive
What are the chances of you finding a praying mantis sac in your Christmas tree? Slim. That’s because most Christmas tree farms use sprays to keep the praying mantis and other insects away from the trees.
While your chance of finding a praying mantis sac is only one in 100,000, according to some experts, you still want to check your tree and know what to look for.
Flickr/Tom Brandt
...you know, just in case.

Have you ever found a praying mantis egg sac on your Pennsylvania Christmas tree? What did you do when you found it? Let us know in the comments! If you still need a Christmas tree this season, head over to Pioneer Evergreen Farms, which sells live traditional trees and trees in a variety of vibrant colors. Planning to stay in this winter? Check out this list of awesome winter staycation must-haves.

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Praying Mantis Egg Sac

Tori Jane | November 13, 2023

Where can one typically find praying mantis eggs?  

Praying mantises are known to lay eggs underneath twigs and stems, leaves, rocks, and even fence posts, buildings and other man-made spots. Mating season for mantises is typically in September and October, after which females will seek out the best places for egg-laying. The eggs are contained in an ootheca, or a “case”, and each ootheca can see anywhere from 50-200 nymphs (babies!) emerge. Interested in other creepy crawlies in Pennsylvania? Check out this creepy new tick in PA to be concerned about.  

Why can praying mantis eggs be found on PA Christmas trees?  

Considering the favorite spot of a female mantis for egg-laying is typically on leaves and branches that can hold her body weight, pine trees are often seen as perfect – which is why you’ll sometimes catch an ootheca or two on your tree if you’re lucky. This is primarily an issue for folks who go out to find and cut down their own trees; farms that grow trees for the specific purpose of being Christmas or holiday trees typically spray their trees to keep mantises and other insects away.  

Where are some safe places to find Christmas trees in PA?  

There are plenty of safe, clean places where you can get a Christmas tree in Pennsylvania. In fact, there are well over 1,400 places to grab one! Some of the best places for getting the perfect tree include:  

  • Rudy’s Christmas Tree Farm – New Bloomfield 
  • Wagner Christmas Tree Farm – Lebanon 
  • Kalie’s Christmas Tree Farm – Shickshinny 
  • Bell Christmas Tree Farm – Clarksville 
  • Bertovich Christmas Tree Farm – Industry 

Considering Pennsylvania is the nation’s #1 producer of Christmas trees, there are many, many more – these are just some great places to start! Check out some other wonderful things to do in Pennsylvania during Christmas.  

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